Our Experts

Farzana Chowdhury | Partner

I joined Hodge Jones & Allen in 2001 as a newly qualified solicitor. I was promoted to associate and then Partner in 2010. I have a broad range of experience in all aspects of housing law. I have a particular interest in possession cases including anti-social behaviour, succession and subletting cases. I have earned myself a reputation for taking on difficult cases that no-one thinks can succeed – and have gone on to obtain excellent results for my clients. I also work extensively in other areas of housing including disrepair and homelessness.

I am a recommended lawyer by the Legal 500 and a leading individual in Chambers UK. I was described by clients as “very quick and dedicated; very calm and collected and good in stressful situations.”

Education

School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, London

Career

Hodge Jones & Allen, 2001

Trained, Duncan Lewis & Co

Client Comments

“The solicitor I used was great. She always responded quickly to me and gave me lots of reassurance during a difficult period.”

“Very professional manner.”

Notable Cases

I represented a secure tenant in possession proceedings for alleged anti-social behaviour of a most serious nature. The police had obtained a closure order on the property as a result of which the tenant was barred from entering her home. Representations were made to the local authority and, after repeated debate and negotiation a duty was accepted to accommodate the tenant and her children. The case culminated in a 5 day trial with approximately 20 witnesses. The court made a suspended order for possession. Upon there being allegations of breach the Claimant applied for a warrant for possession and an eviction date was obtained. The Claimant also separately issued a further claim for possession on the ground of rent arrears. Negotiations were entered into regarding the second possession claim. This was settled by way of a payment of damages for disrepair in the sum of £4000 which extinguished the arrears. An application to suspend the warrant was issued for the first claim. This was heard at a 3 day hearing. The warrant was successfully suspended upon terms.

I represented a client who was a secure tenant of a London authority. The tenant had arrears in excess of £3000 as a result of which possession proceedings had been issued. An outright order for possession had been made by the court in his absence. Upon a Notice of Eviction being issued the tenant sought legal advice representation. An application was urgently made to set aside the order for possession, with the effect of reinstating the tenancy retrospectively. The tenant was then advised regarding a potential claim for housing disrepair. A claim was issued in the county court and the local authority then counterclaimed for the rent arrears. Representations were made to the Housing Benefit department as a result of which backdated Housing Benefit was awarded to the tenant, reducing the arrears from over £3000 to just over £1000. The disrepair claim was thereafter settled on the basis that the balance of arrears would be cleared and the tenant would receive £7000 damages.

Posts by Farzana Chowdhury

Last week, on Thursday, 14th December a memorial service was held at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark 6 months since the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, to remember those that lost their homes, their loved ones and even their lives.The service was very moving and was an example of London at its best. It was attended by people who had lived in or around the tower, people that had lost loved ones, members of the wider community, people of all faiths and none, politicians, pop stars and Royalty.

The Grenfell Action Group and residents raised repeated concerns about the apparent neglect of health and safety legislation. Whilst there are several potential causes of action, the reality for tenants is that they would have struggled to bring a claim for a number of reasons.